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The Beginner's Guide to RSS

2009-11-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

Do you want to keep tabs on your favorite blogs or websites but don't have time to go clicking around the internet to keep up with new content? It's probably time for you to try RSS.

RSS, short for "Really Simple Syndication," is a valuable tool for web users, but especially for journalists who use RSS feeds to streamline their online reading and newsgathering process. RSS makes it easy to keep track of many different blogs at once and to be notified of breaking news in your beat.

What is RSS and how does it work?

Most online news sites and blogs have one or several RSS "feeds" that you can subscribe to and be notified of new posts and articles. Reading these RSS feeds requires an RSS reader. There are many different kinds of RSS readers, but the easiest and most intuitive is Google Reader. If you don't have a Google account, just complete the short registration process by clicking the "Create an account" button. From there you can start adding your favorite news feeds.

Sounds great. How do I do it?

Visit any site or blog that you want to subscribe to and look for an orange RSS icon or use Cmd-F (Mac) or Ctrl-F (PC) to find the word "RSS" on the page. Click on the link and you should be taken to a page that gives you the option of adding the feed to Google. Select this option.

If you can't find the RSS feed or just want to add your feeds within Google Reader itself, click the "Add a subscription" button located in the top left area of Google Reader and enter the URL/web address of the site you want to add. If the site has an RSS feed, Google Reader will automatically add it to your list.

What if I don't know which blogs I should add?

If you aren't sure which blogs you should be following, you can also enter keywords such as "education" or "health" in the same box. Google will recommend blog feeds based on your search terms. After you begin adding blogs, Google Reader will recommend similar blogs that you should be reading. These blogs are found in the "Recommended sources" menu in the left sidebar.

I've added feeds to my RSS reader. What now?

RSS works a lot like email. You will get notifications of new posts and articles in what looks like an inbox. Take a look at the Google Reader layout. On the left, you'll see a list of the blogs and sites you've subscribed to. The number next to it indicates the number of "unread" items. The space on the right is the actual blog post or article.

But wait, I only see a headline or a paragraph.

Some sites make excerpts or headlines available in their RSS feeds to encourage you to read the story on their site. To read the rest of an abbreviated article, click on the headline. A new tab or window should pop up with the full article.

Wait, I'm still totally lost.

Click here for a detailed explanation of RSS or check out this video guide to RSS in plain English.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• The 20 Essential RSS Feeds for Multimedia Journalists
• Beyond Twitterfeed: Innovative uses of Twitter in the newsroom
• What is...? A handy guide for the new media novice

7 Essential multimedia tools and their free alternatives

2009-10-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Why spend money on expensive multimedia tools when you can use comparable alternatives for free? They may not be an exact replacement, but how can you argue with the price?

PHOTO EDITING: Photoshop
Free: Splashup

Photoshop may be the industry leader when it comes to photo editing and graphic design, but Splashup, a free online tool, has many of the same capabilities at a much cheaper price. Splashup has lots of the tools you'd expect to find in Photoshop and has a similar layout, which is a bonus for those looking to get started right away. Splashup isn't the only free online photo editing program, check out this list of 20 more.

WEB DESIGN: Dreamweaver
Free: KompoZer

Looking to create your next web site without paying big money for programs like Dreamweaver? KompoZer, a free web design program available for immediate download, is great for both novice web designers and professional webheads who need more advanced editing features.

VIDEO: Final Cut, Adobe Premiere
Free: iMovie, JayCut

Many video editors, both novice and professional, use iMovie to create professional-looking videos and an amateur price. The program is included on modern Macs as part of the iLife package and has the basic features editors need as well as few advanced extras such as detachable audio and image stabilization. JayCut is an online video editor that lets registered users upload and edit their video for free. You can even add photos, audio and effects to your project. The final edited video can be shared on the web or downloaded directly to a computer.

AUDIO: ProTools, Adobe Audition
Free: Audacity, GarageBand

Audacity is a comprehensive audio editor with many of the capabilities of its costly competitors. The program, which is available for a free download lets users record and edit everything from simple audio tracks to complex professional work. GarageBand, which is included on modern Macs along with iMovie and iPhoto, takes a simple approach to audio editing and has the added capability of creating enhanced podcasts with photos, chapter markers and more. Find even more free audio editing programs here.

SLIDESHOWS: Soundslides
Free: PhotoPeach

Until recently there was no other slideshow tool that could compete upload Soundslides' flexibility and easy-to-use interface...until now. PhotoPeach lets users upload and order photos using a drag and drop interface, upload an MP3 audio file from a computer, add captions for individual photos and embed the final slideshow anywhere on the net. All this is familiar to anyone who has ever used Soundslides, but PhotoPeach offers all this and more for free, making it a strong substitute for Soundslides.

INTERACTIVE MEDIA: Flash
Free: Effect Generator

Effect Generator, a free online tool, lets anyone create common Flash elements such as slideshows, graphics, and embedded videos. Once you've created your effect the generator emails a link where you can access the Flash file you created. The layout differs from Flash and takes some getting used to but is a great alternative, especially for those just starting to learn Flash.

WORD PROCESSING: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Free: Google Docs

Many of the programs and tools on this list are substitutions for existing program. With Google Docs, you'll never want to touch Microsoft Office again. The free online tool lets anyone with a Google account create documents, spreadsheets and presentations as well as share the document for collaborative editing or viewing. Google Docs is accessible from any computer with an internet connection or you can work offline or download your finished work directly to your computer. You can even upload your existing documents into Google Docs.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 21 Free online photo editing tools
• Where to find free sound effects and royalty-free music
• How to edit your video online for free or cheap
• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• Essential multimedia tutorials and resources for do-it-yourself training

Change a life: Help spread the word about 10,000 Words!

2009-10-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

Somewhere out there is a reporter, an editor, a journalist who doesn't know of the amazing resources, comprehensive tutorials and innovative tools that await them at 10,000 Words. By voting for this site in the 2009 Open Web Awards' "Best Site for Journalists" category, you are sharing the gift of innovation with a journalist who so desperately needs it. There are thousands of journalists who may never hear of 10,000 Words, but with just a few clicks you can change a newsroom... and a life.

Vote now and help spread the word about 10,000 Words... the future of journalism depends on it.

How Alfred Hitchcock can make you a better storyteller

2009-10-26T18:45:00.001-07:00

Alfred Hitchcock, director of classic films like Psycho, North by Northwest, Vertigo, and Rear Window, used innovative storytelling and filmmaking techniques to craft some of the most unique and captivating movies in the history of cinema. You don't have to be a filmmaker to steal some of Hitchcock's techniques, though. His unique approach to storytelling transcends media and can be applied to online and multimedia storytelling as well.

Let the characters tell the story

Some of the most interesting scenes in Hitchcock movies aren't the action sequences, but rather the dialogue between characters. The playful banter between Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest, for example, is as intriguing, if not more so, than some of the action sequences. The conversations between Hitchcock characters can be long, but are never dull or boring. If you have a quote, an interview clip or an interesting exchange that makes your story compelling, include it to give the story more life and bring more intensity to the narrative. Think about the parts of your footage or interviews that are the most interesting and try to edit your story so they stand out. This technique applies to text and audio as well as video.

Don't lay all your cards on the table

In online storytelling and web design, it is a commonly held philosophy that the most important information should be placed high on the page or at the beginning of an audio or video piece and that the visitor should be aware of exactly what they are about to experience. In most circumstances, this notion holds true, but it can also create an unintended effect: if the online audience knows exactly what to expect from the story, video or interactive project at the start, they may have no incentive to continue reading. In Psycho, for example, the audience knows they will be watching a Hitchcock thriller. However, what begins as a heist movie quickly turns into a murder mystery. The twist keeps the audience glued to their seats in anticipation. Your story should also be upfront about the content, but have a few twists and turns to keep the reader or viewer wanting to know more.

Stories should be a glimpse into people's lives

In Rear Window, the audience feels as much of a Peeping Tom as Jimmy Stewart does looking outside his window because the story is told from the main character's perspective. The audience knows what he knows and learns what he learns. Take your readers or viewers along for a ride by putting them in your subject's shoes and make them feel like they are learning something new by reading, watching or interacting with your story.

Create something unique that others will imitate

Many websites and blogs, including the one you're reading now, are full of examples of innovators who are advancing the web with new storytelling or visualization techniques that others in turn look to for inspiration. It is up to you to step outside of the proverbial box and create the next innovative technique that others will copy. Hitchcock is now famous for his simple, yet unique, "dolly out, zoom in" technique that has since been copied in films like Jaws, Goodfellas and Poltergeist. What storytelling technique will you be remembered for?

Audio and video should be equally captivating

In The Birds, one of the most dramatic and intense parts of the movie is the sound of the birds chirping and squawking before or during the attacks. In some scenes, the sound of the menacing birds are the only audio element heard during the scene. To make your audio and video stories more compelling, record and include ambient or natural sounds that illustrate the scene more than visuals alone can convey. Hearing the sounds of children laughing is much more interesting than someone describing children's laughter. The sound of gun shots will grab the audience's attention more than words ever can.

On the other hand, Hitchcock once said that a good piece of film is one that can be watched without sound and the audience can still understand the story. Don't let the audio component of your video be a crutch. Make the imagery compelling on its own which can also draw the viewer further into your story.

Special effects shouldn't be too special

Special effects play a role in many of Hitchcock's films such as the rotoscoped avian attackers in The Birds, or the looming Mount Rushmore in North by Northwest (actually matte paintings blended into the real-life sets). As impressive as they were for the time, these special effects never distracted from the story or the action. Along the same line, your online presentations may include dazzling features such as Flash elements or fancy web design, but they should not distract from the story or content.

Also, Hitchcock directed more than 30 black and white films — including Rebecca and The 39 Steps — before directing his first color film in 1948. Don't let newfangled tools and technology distract you from the core elements of storytelling.

Everything won't be immediately popular

Several of Hitchcock's films were instant hits at the box office when they were first released. Vertigo, which is now one of Hitchcock's most famous films, didn't become a real success until it was re-released in theaters in 1983, 25 years after it was first released. It is now considered a classic film and is a favorite among both audiences and critics. In the same vein, your online story, website or multimedia project may not be a success or garner high traffic numbers at its initial release, but if it's good then the audience will find it and it can become popular long after it is first published.

Keep the story simple

Web visitors have notoriously short attention spans, so don't give them any reason to click away from your story. Great stories, like many of Hitchcock films, are intriguing from beginning to end. Eliminate boring or useless information because as the famed director said "What is drama, after all, but life with the dull bits cut out."

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Seuss-isms: Dr. Seuss' thoughts on writing, creativity, and innovation
• 8 Online tools to help improve your writing
• 9 Telltale signs of amateur video
• Albert Einstein: Wise words from a wise man

7 Unique and innovative maps

2009-10-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Throwing a few markers on an interactive map? That's so last year. The next generation of online maps or bigger, bolder and incredibly detailed. They provide a unique service to the viewer and push the envelope of data visualization and the distribution of information.

1. Away We Go

This map created to commemorate the 2009 movie asked music fans to plot their music-related memories on an interactive map. Submissions can be browsed by artist, track or location and when individually selected, an audio clip of the mentioned song appears adjacent to the map.

2. Public911.com

This Google maps mashup plots recent 911 calls on an interactive map with color-coded markers to differentiate between active and closed calls. The map is currently available for the Seattle area only, but plans are in the works to create maps for other cities.

3. FluTracker

The FluTracker map uses clustered markers to indicate cases of swine flu around the world. Users can zoom in for incredibly detailed information on each case. Various charts that detail the daily and cumulative growth of swine flu cases appear below the map.

4. Where is the Money Going?

The latest trend in online mapping is visualizing government data on a map. This offering from Recovery.gov, an official website of the US government, indicates where money intended to stimulate the economy and create jobs is going. There are a number of custom controls and clicking any point on the interactive map gives more detailed data for the area.

5. The Geography of Jobs

We all know the global economy and job market has been in the toilet for awhile. This Flash-animated map makes that point much clearer by illustrating jobs gained and lost since 2004 with big, scary red circles.

6. BillMaps

Find out who voted for what U.S. Congressional bill using this site that plots votes or the bill's sponsors on a map. Maps are available for a long list of current and past bills.

7. Trendsmap

Twitter's trending topics are a great way to find out the most discussed topics on the entire site, but Trendsmap lets anyone find the the most talked about topics from any area all over the world. Users can click on the mapped topics to view recent tweets on the subject from a particular area and a chart indicates the topics growth in popularity over time.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 10 Mind-blowing maps (and 3 ways to create them)
• 5 Ways to take your map mashups to the next level
• 5 Ways to create a Google Map in minutes
• Visual and interactive guides to the economic crisis
• 7 Innovative ways of visualizing the news

10 Ways to make your editor love you

2009-10-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

1. Show up on time to meetings

Sure it only took you an extra five minutes to grab that cup of coffee or send that last email, but if you show up tardy to meetings you look like a slacker. That scowl your editor is shooting your way? It's reserved especially for you.

2. Suggest your own stories

Editors love ambition and consistently coming up with great ideas is a sure way to impress them.

3. Ask for their input before the story runs

Don't wait until the moment you hand over your story to ask for your editor's input. Often these consultations can generate great ideas or angles you may not have thought of yourself.

4. Refer to their award-winning story

The rack of Emmys are Pulitzers on their wall? Ask them how they got those stories and any techniques that would translate to your story. After all, they didn't earn them for nothing.

5. Create memos

TPS reports suck but many editors seem to have an affinity for memos and emails that keep them updated on the progress of your story. Also, a well-crafted memo can save you awkward face time later on.

6. Keep your copy clean

Writing that is riddled with spelling or grammar mistakes is a sure way to incur the wrath of your editor. Keep them on your good side by giving your copy a second look before you hand it over.

7. Fact-check your stories

Any editor worth their salt will inevitably ask where certain information came from. Be ready for this with explicit answers and a list of your sources. And for the love of all things holy, don't say Wikipedia.

8. Meet deadlines

Consistently submitting stories hours or days after they were due is the surest way to drive an editor to the brink of madness. If your project will be late, let the editor know ahead of time or, you know, just try to make the deadline.

9. Don't cry when your copy is cut

It's okay to fight for your work once in awhile, but editors exist for a reason: to trim away some of the unnecessary or redundant parts. Nine times out of ten, your story will be better for it.

10. Buy them a beer

Editors are people too and enjoy the occasional informal social gathering. Let them know you appreciate them and they'll appreciate you back.

Thanks to Lisa Pickoff-White for her help in crafting this post.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Editors: 10 ways you annoy your staff
• 6 Newspaper sections rendered obsolete by the web
• 10 Ugly truths about modern journalism
• 12 Things to tell your tech-impaired editor

Editors: 10 ways you annoy your staff

2009-10-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

1. You call or email on weekends

The occasional weekend call is excusable. Calling every Saturday or Sunday with questions about stories or comments on future projects is not. Save the suggestions for Monday.

2. Your office door is closed

Whether you're constantly out to lunch or vacation or you're just shutting your self out from the world, your staff will resent never being able to reach you.

3. You can't walk the walk

There's nothing worse than having your writing critiqued by someone who can't write themselves. If you are commanding your staff to write or produce a story but can't actually do it yourself, you will lose the respect of your staff.

4. You stifle creativity

True innovation comes from experimentation. If you insist that everything be written by the book and don't allow room for creativity, you'll end up with a very bored staff producing very boring work.

5. You don't fight for your staff

Every once in a while, writers and producers will have a story that they are particularly passionate about. Don't shoot down their dreams and ambitions by cutting these stories without justification or ushering them through the editing process.

6. You hover

Writers and reporters don't like to be haunted. Avoid standing over their desks while they're working or appearing out of nowhere and standing there silently.

7. You change facts without notice

If you notice something wrong in a story and alter it without consulting the writer or reporter, you may make an incorrect change that can affect the credibility of the entire story. Before you make any edits that alter the facts in a story, consult with the writer first.

8. You rewrite stories in your voice

Even more insulting than changing facts is changing writing so it mirrors your own voice and not the voice of the reporter. Changing grammar and sentence structure is one thing, changing the style of writing is an insult.

9. There are too many of you

Working with several editors at once is sort of like walking a pack of dogs down the street — every dog has an idea of where it wants to go and it's up to the dog walker to keep everyone on track. Don't be those dogs. Coordinate your efforts.

10. You don't prioritize

Handing down too many "priority" tasks at once is a sure way to frustrate your staff.
If everything is an emergency, then nothing is.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 10 Ways to make your editor love you
• 12 Things to tell your tech-impaired editor
• 9 Things You Didn't Know About Newspapers
• What do your users think of you?

5 Creative uses of Flash and interactive storytelling

2009-10-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Flash is capable of more than just audio slideshows. Some of the most innovative uses of the animation software are happening outside of journalism and are challenging the traditional notions of storytelling through interactivity and innovation.

Jordan: History of Flight

The storied career of basketball legend Michael Jordan is told through this interactive timeline that uses eye-catching and interactive graphics to make Jordan's story even more powerful.

HBO Imagine: The Affair

Cable channel HBO knows what makes a good story and has a whole rack of awards to prove it. It's latest foray into interactive online storytelling is this narrative that tells a single story from four different perspectives.

UNIQLO

To showcase its 2009 collection, clothing retailer UNIQLO created an interactive runway where users can select a model and read more about the clothes they are wearing. It's unique interface creates a more dynamic shopping experience.

What's the Real Cost?

This interactive Flash game developed by health insurance non-profit Regence seeks to educate users on the hidden fees and bureaucracy often associated with American health care system. Like most Flash games, it is fun but subliminally educational.

A Journey Beyond

Sure it's a clever way to sell more monogram bags, but Louis Vuitton's interactive conversation between astronauts Jim Lovell, Sally Ride and Buzz Aldrin is nevertheless brilliant. It is clever not only in its use of Flash, but in creating an immersive experience that draws the viewer in to the stories of the three history makers.

The aforementioned sites took a lot of time and exceptional talent to create, but it doesn't mean novice or intermediate Flash users can't take some of the basic storytelling and interaction techniques and apply them to their own stories. Flash has a wide range of capabilities and it takes just a little imagination and effort to create something new and unique.

Haven't yet mastered the basics of Flash? Check out the Flash tutorials available at w3schools.com, kirupa.com and lynda.com.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Where to find the best in Flash journalism
• 3 reasons journalists shouldn't use Flash
• 8 Flash tips and tricks + one big cheat sheet
• How to save time when using Flash

The future of journalism: 3 Multimedia journalists to watch

2009-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

1. McKenna Ewen

It is rare to see a multimedia journalist who truly fits the definition of the craft — a mastery of many different types of journalism and the wisdom to know which to use. McKenna Ewen is that journalist. In his relatively brief, but accomplished career, the award-winning twenty-something has created riveting stories in a variety of media, including text, photos and video. Times of Recession, a gripping look at how the failing economy is affecting all walks of life, and Remembering Spc. Carlos Wilcox, the story of a military officer who died in an Iraq missile, indicate that McKenna has a bright future ahead of him.

2. Mathilde Piard

Mathilde Piard, an internet producer at The Palm Beach Post, grabbed the attention of the audience at last week's Online News Association conference when she emphatically declared that young journalists are not the carefree, free-spirited wanderers that veteran journalists often think they are. A champion for younger journalists as well as female journalists, Mathilde is using her Twitter feed to establish herself as a voice of a new generation of journalists. Mathilde has a number of stellar multimedia projects to her credit, including Inside Home Birth, a story of women choosing to birth their babies away from hospitals, and Hot Jobs, where locals discuss the ups and downs of their trade.

3. Chris Tompkins

At the core of every one of Chris Tompkins' multimedia stories is a great visual eye, an impressive mastery of photography and the technical skills to bring it all to life. Chris has a varied collection of multimedia stories to his credit. Among them: Yosemite in Sight & Sound, a recent project on the national park, demonstrates both a commitment and dedication to pulling together an amazing story, and, as you'll see from the video below, proves that Chris stands head and shoulders above even some of the most seasoned visual journalists.

Want to see more great work by young multimedia journalists? Check out The Fall Workshop, a project of the students of Syracuse University, and News21, a collaborative project of universities across the US.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Just what are they teaching future journalists?
• Do children really want to be journalists when they grow up?
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Multimedia Journalists

7 Ways to keep journalism alive (without paywalls)

2009-10-05T10:12:00.001-07:00

Is journalism dead? Not even close. Attendees at this past week's Online News Association conference were brimming with ideas about how to sustain journalism and the technologies that will support the industry. Want to be a part of the future of journalism and technology? Here's what you need to know.

1. Explore new technologies, but be discerning

In her workshop Top Ten Tech Trends You've Still Never Heard Of, Webbmedia Group's Amy Webb threw a list of amazing new technologies at the audience like lightning bolts, each one more dazzling than the last. While all the technologies mentioned had the ability to elevate journalism, it would be foolhardy to adopt them all at the same time. Instead, choose the tools that you think are right for your organization and can do more than just be the "cool" new tool.

2. Experiment, but don't be afraid to fail

The journalism culture insists that new ideas be tested and proven before they are actually put into place, the opposite of other industries where failure is a part of the process. Journalism innovators have such a heavy burden on their shoulders because the world is watching and sometimes waiting to cry FAIL should a project go under. Don't be afraid of failure or the naysayers, because as journalism educator Ann Grimes said, it is okay to "fail early and often."

3. Follow the wisdom of the crowd

There were many great panels at ONA, but the absolute best and most informative wasn't created by conference producers, but rather was voted up by conference attendees. Instead of a group of pre-selected panelists, the lively "un-conference" session led by Publish2's Ryan Sholin encouraged input from anyone who wanted to speak and the diverse viewpoints contributed to the collective knowledge of the group and a better understanding of the topic.

4. Collaborate with others outside of journalism

Looking to other journalists for inspiration can be equivalent to the blind leading the blind. The way to truly innovate is to look outside of journalism for ways to improve the industry. Take a cue from Stanford University and a number of other journalism schools who have partnered with other departments to come up with new ways technology can be used to enhance and sustain journalism.

5. There's more than one way to skin a cat

One ONA session in particular left the audience scratching their heads after the presenter showcased only one way to create an online map when there in fact hundreds of ways to create map mashups. The implied lesson: there may be a single technology that everyone is using but that doesn't mean you shouldn't experiment with different options. Case in point: journalists and geeks all gravitate toward one technology and chastise others for not following suit. If you're using a computer, it must be a Mac, if you're using a browser it must be Firefox and if you're using email it must be Gmail. Forget about what others say, if you find something that suits you better, go with it.

6. Follow your passion...now

You don't have to wait until you are let go from or quit your job to start the next big revolutionary project. ONA speakers Leo Laporte and Om Malik started with an idea for their respective businesses and didn't wait for editors or business executives to give them the go ahead. If you start small and have a great idea, that will idea will cut through the clutter and rise to the top where other people will discover it.

7. Provide good content

It doesn't matter how novel or innovative journalism is presented if the content itself sucks. There are a million burgeoning ideas of how to present news but if the writing, reporting, facts and research are lacking, readers and viewers just won't care.

Also on 10,000 Words:
• What the journalism industry can learn from porn
• 4 Organizations more tech-savvy than your newsroom
• 10 Journalists you should follow on Twitter

The importance of real-life relationships

2009-09-29T19:48:00.000-07:00

Between Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Flickr, the hundreds of thousands of online social networks, Skype, IMs, email, texts and of course Google, it's easy to get a pretty clear picture of who a person is, what his or her interests are and a peek inside their personality.

Except it's not.

There are so many ways to connect with a person online that meeting a person face to face, in real life, is becoming a less attractive last resort. Even with all the modern conveniences, there are some visual cues that can only perceived through face-to-face conversation.

It's the twinkle of the eye or the arch of the eyebrow. The stammering speech or the blush of the cheek. Forgive the flowery prose, but that's what makes humans so damn interesting: the little things that can't be picked up through online interaction.

A big reason why I'm looking forward to this week's Online News Association conference is that while I interact with hundreds of journalists, writers, techies and designers online, I have actually only met a small few in person. It is important to get the know the people behind the avatars and the tweets, to understand the personalities that make the web the fun and interactive place it is.

For journalists, it is especially important to get up from behind the computer and meet sources and be reminded of the people who make up the community you cover. There is no use in writing stories or developing applications for people who you only exist inside your head.

We're all guilty of it and while I'm not encouraging anyone to toss out their Blackberrys, iPhones or laptops, consider what insight or information you may be losing by not interacting with a person, in person.

5 Ways to take your map mashups to the next level

2009-09-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

Quick ways to create a online map mashup have already been covered here, but as online maps become more sophisticated, so are the tools used to create them. The following are free tools that have additional functionality beyond point-and-click mapping, but are still relatively easy to use.

UMapper

UMapper has some unique and outstanding features beyond the ability to embed custom Flash-based maps. Map makers can create a GeoDart game in which the user is tasked with pointing to a specific location on a map or use the site to create a map wiki that anyone can edit or share. One of UMapper's more interesting features is the ability to extract geocoded locations from a block of text or web address. For example, by inputting the URL of the Washington Post's travel page, UMapper instantly created the map below of all the places mentioned on the site.

Vidmap

Vidmap, previously mentioned here, lets users create maps that work in tandem with online video, displaying the location that appears in the video on an adjacent dynamic map.

The process to create a map is surprisingly easy: upload a video to Vidmap or use one already hosted on YouTube and click the map to create drag and drop markers. The result is a map that has an added layer of dimensionality and visual interest.

Batch Geocode

One of the seemingly daunting tasks about creating a map mashup is plotting a large list of addresses on a map. You could save an Excel spreadsheet as a CSV file and import it into any of the online tools that accept the data format...or you could just let Batch Geocode do the work for you. Simply copy and paste your addresses into the site, make a few selections and in seconds the site will list the latitude and longitude coordinates, which can then be imported into a spreadsheet. The site even maps the addresses/coordinates for you in a linkable map.

MapBuilder

The great thing about MapBuilder is that while the site can be used to easily create a map in minutes, it's also able to create extraordinarily complex maps that are no more difficult to create. Markers can include text, photos, video, links and HTML, which can be create using the site's a user-friendly interface. Because the finished product is exported as an HTML/CSS file, the more tech-minded can add customized markers are change the entire look and style of the map by just tweaking a few lines of code.

Several 10,000 Words maps, including "U.S. Newspapers pick the president" were built with MapBuilder.

CloudMade

Developers looking for even more customization and flexibility should consider CloudMade, which can be used to create simple to turn-by-turn directions to complex web and mobile applications backed by programming languages such as Java, Python and Ruby. As an added bonus, designers who are tired of the same old maps available from Google Maps and Yahoo Maps, can choose from a wide range of map designs that are easy on the eyes.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 5 Ways to create a Google Map in minutes
• 8 Beautifully Designed Maps
• Explore the Earth with online maps
• 10 Mind-blowing maps (and 3 ways to create them)

The 99 Greatest blogs you aren't reading

2009-09-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

What's the best way to keep track of journalism and technology? Read non-journalism blogs.

When I am asked how do I find all the cool and innovative sites and tools featured at 10,000 Words, I quickly reply that I subscribe to more than 150 blogs, using Google Reader to keep track of them all. For the first time, here is a list of many of those blogs and sites, edited for relevance. Most of these blogs have little relation to journalism and cover everything from technology to design to photography and everything in between. You'll find my absolute favorites and suggested reads at the top of the list and even more great sites following after.

1. Black Star Rising

Advice and opinion on the art and business of photography

2. Blogging Tips

Tips on how to become a better blogger

3. FFFFOUND!

FFFFOUND! allows users to post and share their favorite images found on the web

4. FlowingData

FlowingData explores how designers, statisticians, and computer scientists are using data to understand ourselves better - mainly through data visualization.

5. Google Maps Mania

A blog that covers all the cool new Google Maps mashups, tools and applications being created by people all over the world.

6. information aesthetics

Collects projects that represent data or information in original or intriguing ways

7. kottke.org

The best linkblog on the net

8. Mashable!

Social media news blog covering cool new websites and social networks

9. Neatorama

Blog full of random interesting tidbits about life, the world and the internet

10. Read/WriteWeb

Provides analysis of web products and trends

11. Smashing Magazine

Useful and innovative information about the latest trends and techniques in web development

12. The Next Web

Reports about everything that influences the future of the Web

The best of the rest...

13. 1stwebdesigner

A design blog that focuses on web design, graphic design, tutorials and inspirational articles

14. a beautiful revolution

Insightful doodles from Andre Jordan

15. Advertising Lab

Follows the future of advertising technologies and media

16. AisleOne

An inspirational resource focused on graphic design, typography, grid systems, minimalism and modernism

17. Barry's Best Computer Tips

Computer tips, internet tools and software news

18. Blog To Great

Tips and help for creating and maintaining successful, profitable, great blogs

19. Blog.SpoonGraphics

Design tutorials, graphic design articles and free vector downloads

20. Cartogrammar

A blog about maps and the technology and design that fuel them

21. Chip Chick

Tech and gadgets from a woman's perspective

22. CinemaTech

Focuses on how new technologies are changing cinema - the way movies get made, discovered, marketed, distributed, shown, and seen.

23. Consumerist

The best blog dedicated to consumer affairs

24. Cool Material

The latest in men's fashion and style, gear, tech, gadgets, and media

25. CraziestGadgets.com

A site dedicated to the craziest gadgets, gizmos, toys, technology, and design.

26. Creattica Daily

Design and creative news

27. currybetdotnet

Search, media, and newspapers on the web

28. CyberNet News

Technology news and productivity tips

29. Death by Kerning

Typography and design

30. Design You Trust

Design blog dedicated to latest trends

31. designfeedr

Design inspiration from a variety of media

32. Digital Amy

A collection of awesome journalism technology tips

33. Digital Inspiration

Technology blog focused on software, tools and web technologies

34. Dinosaurs and Robots

Unique blog that focuses on objects as design inspiration

35. Dirty Mouse

Blog focused on graphic design, web design, illustration, photography, interior and product design

36. Dzineblog

Design inspiration and creativity

37. Fuel Your Creativity

Graphic design blog that provides news, articles and resources for all types of design

38. geeksugar

Technology and gadgets blog geared toward women

39. Gizmodo

Online review dedicated to gadgets, gizmos, and cutting-edge consumer electronics

40. GOOD Blog

Weblog of GOOD Magazine, one of the best resources for infographic journalism

41. Graphic Design Blog

The name says it all

42. Haga clic para continuar

Infografía interactiva y mucho más

43. hongkiat.com

Online tips for tech users, designers and bloggers

44. Horses Think

Blog filled with random visual stimuli

45. Information Design Watch

Information visualization and design blog

46. Inspire me, now!

Szymon Blaszczyk's inspiration log

47. inspiredology.com

Showcases design trends in web, graphic design, logos and business cards

48. Interesting Pile

A librarian posts links to things he thinks are interesting, such as lists, games, quizzes, book reviews and neat sites

49. Ironic Sans

Featuring innovative ideas, short films, observations on design, and an ongoing look at New York City in animation

50. Journalism 2010

Where journalism, innovation and entrepreneurship collide

51. Kitsune Noir

A visual collection of random bits related to art, design, fashion, films and music

52. Lifehacker

Tips for making life easier

53. LikeCOOL

The best in gadgets and design

54. LostInTechnology

Online guide to helpful tools and software

55. MakeUseOf.com

Cool websites, software and internet tips

56. Map Hawk

Watching how the media communicates with maps

57. mental_floss

Blog on trivia and interesting facts

58. Ministry of Type

Typography, lettering, calligraphy and other related design elements

59. Motionographer

Showcases inspiring and outstanding motion design, graphic design, animation, visual effects, graphic design and digital filmmaking.

60. MyInkBlog

A resource for all things graphic and web design

61. Nerd Approved

Sometimes ridiculous gadgets and gizmos

62. NiceFuckingGraphics!

Diseño gráfico, ilustración, tutoriales y más

63. NiemanLab

Killer blog about journalism in the digital age

64. Positive Space

A graphic design blog that covers website design, the business of design, design and technology, and sources of inspiration

65. Preik

Design aggregation blog

66. Pro Blog Design

How to design a better blog

67. ProgrammableWeb

Information on APIs, mashups and the Web as platform

68. Quick Online Tips

Technology news, blogging tips, free software, Web 2.0 and how to make money online

69. Random Good Stuff

Random good stuff.

70. SacredFacts

Linkblog dedicated to journalism, technology and new media

71. shiner.clay

Essential tidbits about what's going on in the music, web 2.0 and design community

72. Simple Complexity

Discussions of data visualization, data integration, business intelligence, and knowledge management

73. SlyVisions dot Com

Blogging and internet marketing tips

74. Smashing Apps

Free and useful online resources for designers and developers

75. Smiley Cat

Articles, tips and tutorials about web design, CSS, usability, search engine optimization and other web design-related topics.

76. TechCrunch

Preeminent blog about technology start-ups

77. TechCult

Internet, hardware, software, mobile and gaming news

78. technabob

Gadgets, technology and home entertainment

79. Technologizer

Personal technology blog

80. Technospot.net

Personal computing and technology

81. TechXav

A technology blog run by a group of tech-savvy teenagers between the age of 14-15

82. The Art of the Title Sequence

Features opening title design for film and television

83. The Big Picture

Amazing photography blog

84. The Design Cubicle

Print design, web design, logo design, branding, advertising & marketing and more

85. The Map Room

Maps, map collections, map-related resources, and material about maps on the web

86. The Popcorn Trick

Interesting links and awesome tweets

87. The Presurfer

Technology news and examples

88. The Raw Feed

Technology and culture blog

89. Twitter: @AudioJungle

Awesome links from audio sharing marketplace AudioJungle

90. Twitter: @brainpicker

Awesome links from creative strategist Maria Popova

91. Twitter: @johnsonLAB

Awesome links from Berlin-based media strategy firm johnsonLAB

92. Twitter: @dujourno

Awesome links from writer R. Trentham Roberts

93. Twitter: @SteffanAntonas

Awesome links from blogger Steffan Antonas

94. Web Design Ledger

Design inspiration, tips and tutorials

95. WebUrbanist

Urban design, culture, travel, architecture and alternative art

96. Webware.com

Cool web applications

97. Word Bang

Copywriting for the web and elsewhere

98. wordboner

Clever musings expressed through unique typography

99. Yanko Design

Explores the future of technology

Congrats, you made it to the end of the list! Be sure to also check out the blogroll in the left sidebar for more journalism and multimedia-themed blogs.

UPDATE: Here's an OPML file of the above blogs so you can easily upload them into your RSS reader (created with OPMLBuilder)

Have favorites that aren't on this list? Want to pimp your own blog? Share it with everyone in the comments.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 30 Amazing photoblogs (and a few tips for creating one)
• Steal This Blog!
• The tools I actually use
• How to stay interested in blogging

7 Amazing Twitter visualizations

2009-09-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

GoodMorning!

This stunning video visualizes Twitter users around the world who tweeted the phrase "good morning." Approximately 11,000 tweets in various languages were collected for the project and are color-coded by time of day. Find out more about how it was created here.

Information creation & circulation, after Twitter

It's no secret that Twitter has challenged mainstream news media when it comes to breaking news. Exactly how far behind do television and newspapers lag? About two hours and 8 hours, respectively, according to this chart.

twittervision

An oldie but goodie, Twittervision maps recent tweets on a Google map mashup. The result is both striking and hypnotic.

More Truth About Twitter

If the Twitter community were 100 people, 50 would be lazy and 20 would be dead, according to this visualization based on recent Twitter studies. Subsequent charts reveal that on average 40% of tweets are "inane" and Monday is the peak day for retweets.

Twitterfall

Twitter's public timeline never looked this good. Keep track of trending topics or your own search terms with this online tool that presents recent tweets as a never-ending cascade.

Just Landed

This video piece visualizes Twitter users who have just landed or arrived in locations around the world with streams that plot both their home location and the location where they arrived.

twistori

Twitter users can be an emotional bunch and nowhere else is that more clearly visualized than twistori, which sorts and streams tweets by various sentiments, including love, hate and believe.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• How to analyze your Twitter followers and friends
• Be inspired! 12 ways to find the best in data visualization
• 8 Ways of visualizing the news
• Databases and polls: When numbers are the news
• 10 Journalists you should follow on Twitter

Where to find the best online interactive maps

2009-09-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

With a wide range of ways to create online maps, many more news organizations are using these tools to create interesting and unique online maps. Some media companies like the ones featured below are consistently producing good maps that are both visually engaging and educate readers.

TheStar.com

The Toronto Star's online iteration produces maps using a combination of the Google Maps API and layers, tools that anyone can pick up and learn. What makes the Star exceptional is its chosen subject matter and the simplicity in which complex data is presented. These unique maps visualize a wide range of topics, including obesity, murder, and of course, chlamydia.

Stamen Design

Stamen Design, a technology and design studio based in San Francisco, has produced some of the most visually arresting yet informative maps of anyone outside of the traditional journalism sphere. The company has a long list of clients and an impressive body of work, including Oakland Crimespotting and San Francisco Crimespotting two incredibly detailed, Flash-based interactive maps, and its latest offering the California Stimulus Map, a searchable, visual index of economic recovery funds.

The Wall Street Journal

The Journal has covered a number of news subjects using interactive maps, including regional violence in Afghanistan. The paper, however, sets itself apart from other online maps by making raw data available immediately below its maps. The sortable tables of data can be found alongside projects like "Failed Banks," "Pressure on the Presses," an examination of declining newspaper circulation, and "Stimulus Spending by State."

The New York Times

The work of the New York Times has been featured a gajillion times on this blog for good reason — its interactive online journalism is in a league of its own. The Times staff has produced a lot of outstanding maps over the years, including its recent work on immigration, local homicides and water pollution.

Las Vegas Sun

The attributes all of the aforementioned content producers have in common is a unique approach to existing mapping technology and the ability to visualize information in a way that is clear and understandable to the viewer. The Las Vegas Sun is all this and more, creating a wide variety of maps including a searchable database/Google Map mashup of local crimes, a clever mashup of restaurants open at any given time, an interactive visualization of flight delays around the country and a Flash-animated map of the history of the Las Vegas strip and beyond.

There are some incredible online maps featured here, but there are a great many more that are not. Seen a great online interactive map lately? Share it in the comments!

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 5 Ways to create a Google Map in minutes
• 10 Mind-blowing maps (and 3 ways to create them)
• 5 Online tools for getting more out of maps
• 5 Interactive maps that connect communities

10 Ugly truths about modern journalism

2009-09-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

1. The stories that are published are the stories that sell

The reason you're more likely to read about a shooting spree than a library opening is because with dwindling resources, broadcasters and print publications must devote their time to stories that will grab the most attention. Hyperlocal sites like EveryBlock have stepped up to fill the void, but the phrase "if it bleeds, it leads" has never been truer.

2. Many stories are not copy edited

In the age of layoffs and buyouts, many of the first people to go in the newsroom are the copy editors, the people ensure that published stories are accurate and well-written. Without copy editors, many stories, especially those that appear online, are being published without first being checked for spelling and grammar. These errors are becoming even more frequent and are a mark of credibility against the news outlet.

3. Many stories come from wire services

Years ago, newspapers were brimming with stories written by staff reporters about national and international issues. As these reporters are being downsized, more of the national stories that appear in the local paper are written by wire services like Reuters and the Associated Press, meaning a lack of diverse voices covering any given issue.

4. Some journalists are driven by awards

The great majority of journalists gravitate to the profession to spread the news to as many people as possible and enlighten the communities they cover. There are also some journalists who write stories not for readers, but with the intent of winning big name awards like Pulitzers and Emmys. Though they may not openly admit it, some stories are written to gain the adoration of other journalists rather than to empower readers.

5. Journalists are biased

There is no such thing as unbiased...it is humanly impossible. While journalists often strive to make sure their stories are as unbiased as possible, many cover particular subjects or issues because they feel particularly strong about them.

6. Some journalists use Wikipedia

Although the use of Wikipedia is frowned upon in many newsrooms because of its perceived unreliability, many reporters do use the wiki as a source and unverified facts that appear on the site sometimes make their way into news stories. Such was the case with the obituary of French composer Maurice Jarre. Many newspapers published a quote found on his Wikipedia page that was never uttered by Jarre himself, but was added to the page by a then 22-year-old university student.

7. There is no big conspiracy

Not so much an ugly truth, but a truth some refuse to accept. There are a growing number of critics who decry the media for collectively and intentionally pushing either the liberal or conservative agenda (which agenda depends on who you ask). The truth is such a coordinated effort does not exist and most publications are made up of individual journalists with a wide of variety of interests and (you guessed it) political leanings.

8. Many journalists have side projects

In the golden age of journalism, reporters could dedicate themselves exclusively to their work in the newsroom when there was no fear of being sudden layoffs. But when a pink slip could come at a moment's notice and paychecks are becoming increasingly smaller, many more journalists are writing books, creating blogs, consulting, and anything that can build their personal brand or bring in a few extra dollars.

9. Entertainment stories rule

When journalists lament the "death" of journalism, they are often referring to the big investigative pieces that expose politicians and bring to light previously uncovered issues. The reality is, the most popular stories on news sites are often not investigative pieces, but entertainment stories and celebrity news. Paris Hilton can often drive more traffic than the president.

10. No one has the answers

Everyone is looking for the savior of journalism and the solution to the industry's problems. Social networking, paywalls, restructuring and micropayments have all been suggested as the key to saving journalism, but anyone who says they have a definite answer is delusional or misinformed. Together we will try to do everything to ensure journalism's future, but what exactly that magic solution is remains to be seen.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 10 Reasons why online news sites suck
• 10 Things I wish they'd told me in J-School
• 25 Things I've Learned About Journalism

Data centers, APIs and what they mean to journalism

2009-09-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

For journalists, creating a database means sifting through tons of raw, often unorganized data, presenting it in an indexable way and sometimes finding the stories buried deep in the data. This is part of the long tradition of journalism: synthesizing information before it is presented to the public. The latest trend of posting raw data to the web means the public can examine news and statistics without filter and find their own stories without having a group of journalists figuring it out for them.

The online presentation of raw data has taken many forms. Mainstream news organizations like the New York Times, the Guardian and Advertising Age have created online data centers where large collections of numbers and statistics are available to the public to peruse at their leisure or, better yet, to mashup into their own databases and visualizations.

This is, of course, a part of a larger trend on the web of making data available for anyone who wants to view or use it. Data.gov, a project of the US government, houses data on everything from tax information to natural disaster statistics and makes the information available in a various digital formats including CSV and XML. The recently announced DataSF, a collection of data published by the city and county of San Francisco, California, has more than 100 datasets available for public use — everything from bridge locations and bodies of water to crime statistics and public works projects.

Posting raw data has its advantages over traditional journalism in that it gets the public involved and uncovers stories that even a team of journalists could not discover themselves. Earlier this year, the Guardian posted more than 450,000 pages of data on UK government officials' expenses and asked the public for help in finding interesting tidbits or information. Based on the public's findings, the staff created a series of stories that delineated outlandish expenses like £2000 to dredge a moat at a private estate.

The datasets presented by news organizations are often publicly available numbers and statistics that are can be found on- or offline. The difference is the data has been cleaned up and made available in a digital format that takes less time to sift through and understand. Datasets aren't limited to third party information either: NPR recently made more than 80,000 of its transcripts available via its recently announced Transcript API. The API allows developers to mashup the transcripts in ways that are yet to be seen.

But is posting raw data journalism? Where is the editing, the reporting, and all the values that are the bedrock of newsrooms everywhere? The core of a journalist's job is to spread the news and to inform the public. While posting raw data may not involve some of the traditional values of journalism, it is still sharing the news and telling the story. Even better, this system for sharing content lets the public decide for themselves what is news without the filter of a news outlet to decide for them. This process encapsulates the core values of online journalism: collaboration, openness and stepping outside of traditional means of delivering the news.

8 Ways to save money on your next multimedia project

2009-09-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

You don't have to have stacks of money or an enormous budget to create amazing multimedia stories. Check out some of the tips below for making recession-friendly projects.

1. Create a homemade studio

Instead of paying money for a professional soundbooth, create a similar effect by hanging blankets in the walls of a closet or small room (preferably one with electrical outlets). The blankets work in the same way padded walls do, creating a richer sound
for your recordings and lessening the reverb or echo in the room.

2. Find Creative Commons-licensed photos

Thanks to Creative Commons, many photographers have made their work freely available for public use, requiring only attribution or minor restrictions. This means instead of shooting all your photos yourself, you can tap the existing work of talented photographers to include in your photo projects or slideshows.

3. Use your iPhone

Considering the iPhone's not so budget-friendly price tag, this tip assumes you already have one. Besides the built-in video camera in the 3GS (which at least one journalist has used to record and report stories), there are a wide range of iPhone apps that can be used for multimedia production. These include TimeLapse which, as its name suggests, creates time-lapse photography, Pano which creates panoramic photographs, and FourTrack, an audio mixer for the iPhone. More helpful apps for producers and reporters can be found at this previous post.

4. Find free music

There's no reason to pay big money for backing tracks when there is lots of free music to be found on the web. Sites like Incompetech, Partners in Rhyme and MusOpen have free music available to download and incorporate into your projects.

5. Take advantage of free trials

Many software distributors make free trials of their software available to potential buyers and can come in handy when you really need the software for your project. Adobe, for example, offers 30-day trial versions for many of its popular offerings, including Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and InDesign.

6. Use free software

Why pay for expensive software when free software can do the trick? Take advantage of free programs like Audacity and GarageBand for audio editing, iMovie and Windows Live Movie Maker for video editing. Can't find a free alternative to your favorite software? Check out CNET's Download.com which makes finding free, peer-reviewed programs incredibly easy.

7. Use online alternatives

Some popular programs like Photoshop have free online clones that let users access some of the same features without paying the hefty cost of software. Also check out these free online video editing tools and these alternatives to Soundslides.

8. Beg and borrow

If you have colleagues or friends who have the equipment you need but can't afford, ask them if you can borrow it for a couple of hours. Assure them that you'll return it in peak condition and, of course, try not to trash it.

Got more money saving tips? Share them in the comments!

Also on 10,000 Words:
• 21 Free online photo editing tools
• How to edit your video online for free or cheap
• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• Where to find free sound effects and royalty-free music
• Essential multimedia tutorials and resources for do-it-yourself training

5 Online tools for following US government officials

2009-08-31T17:28:00.000-07:00

The 2008 U.S. election season may be over, but the real work has only just begun. The following tools are tracking the every move of President Barack Obama and Congress in easy to use online tools that can turn any user into a political watchdog.

Congress Speaks

It's safe to say that the members of Congress talk a great deal while in session. In total, more than 14.5 million words were spoken in the 110th Congress. Congress Speaks is a fun, interactive guide to who was speaking those words and how often. From the site we know that California Congressman Joe Baca spoke more than 24,000 words during the session and, from the small word cloud that accompanies each Congressperson, his focus was on families, children and food.

Capitol Words

A more timely and serious approach to tracking Congress, Capitol Words, a project of the Sunlight Foundation, tracks the most frequently spoken words said on the Hill. The data can be viewed a number of ways, including a bar chart that highlights the most commonly spoken words, a heat map that visualizes the most vocal states, and few other bar charts that highlight the most and least vocal Congresspeople. The words are also sortable by day, week, month, session, Congressperson and are searchable by topic.

The Washington Post: POTUS Tracker

The Post has made it easier to find out where the president has been at any given time with its POTUS Tracker, an interactive database that uses a tree map to visualize where the president has been and what issues he discussed. The database can be sorted by issues, the type of meeting or venue, and by those in attendance. Clicking further into the project reveals a tailored list of the president's actions in relation to the selected category. The database also has an accompanying RSS feed for keeping track of President Obama 24/7.

PolitiFact

After the 2008 election, the now Pulitzer-prize winning site PolitiFact shifted its focus to President Obama and the rest of Washington. The site's Obameter tracks the campaign promises the president made during his campaign on categorizes them as Kept, Unkept, No Action, and a few other categories. The tool is remarkable in that traditional media have long been passive about holding candidates accountable for the promises made to voters.

The site still features its Truth-O-Meter, a holdover from the campaign season that analyzes the statements of key political figures and rates them on a scale from True to "Pants on Fire."

USA Today: Presidential Approval Tracker

There are obviously a lot of words flowing from lawmakers' mouths, but what does the American public actually think of its current and past Commanders in Chief? USA Today has created an insightful interactive chart that compares past presidents' approval ratings — from Harry Truman to Barack Obama. Users can select and two or more presidents and compare their standings while in office and adjust the graph by date.

For more online political tools and visualizations, including perspctv and FiveThirtyEight, check out the previous post 15 Ways to follow the 2008 election online.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 10 Inspirational New York Times multimedia and interactive features
• News databases: Turning numbers into knowledge
• 8 Ways of visualizing the news
• Where to find the best in Flash journalism

POP QUIZ: Band Name or Font?

2009-08-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has ever searched through a large selection of fonts for a design project knows that many fonts and typefaces can have some pretty out there names. Here's your challenge... of the 15 names in the quiz below, which are actual names of fonts and which are band names. Good luck!

Also on 10,000 Words:

• How to select the right font every time
• What it feels like to make the front page of Digg
• A is for Audio: The ABCs of Multimedia

How Twitter saved my career... and my life

2009-08-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

There was a time when I refused to join Twitter, both because I am suspicious of anything being touted as the next. best. thing. and because I didn't want the site consuming all of my free time. When I finally began using Twitter, it was much in the same way others did: sharing my thoughts and interesting links with other users. It wasn't until I was suddenly laid off from my job that I truly understood the power of the site and social networking.

When I was first laid off from my position at a respected magazine along with a substantial number of other staff members, I was devastated. By then, Twitter had become an integral part of my day and before my supervisor could finish the call I had already tweeted: "I JUST GOT LAID OFF. Anybody have a job?"

Other journalists and colleagues who I had friended over the past several months sent knowing tweets of empathy and support, but had no jobs, only words to offer. I was moved by the support, but after the replies stopped coming, my termination began to feel like a meme: a here today, gone tomorrow event with a sudden and widespread rise in popularity, but forgotten even more quickly. Still, I went about the business of applying for jobs, comforted by the fact that anyone who googled me would find the tweet "Someone should hire Mark Luckie."

I honestly expected to find a new job immediately after being downsized, but weeks turned into months and it became increasingly clear that, despite my unique skills, I wasn't going to find another job as soon as I'd hoped. I felt an unshakable sense of isolation and despair sitting alone in my apartment day after day, so to fight it I threw myself into my blog and ramped up my use of Twitter: talking and sharing ideas with people, most of whom I had never met in person, but who kept me from constantly thinking about my job situation. It was through Twitter that I realized that thousands of journalists were being laid off from newsrooms around the country and that I wasn't alone.

As the months crawled by, it seemed as if I would be unemployed forever. For weeks I considered changing my career to something other than journalism, even though I have an unabashed love and passion for the craft. It was on the days that I was feeling at my lowest that I would still send a tweet about something fascinating I'd seen online. The most casual tweets, often written to take my mind off my situation, were retweeted hundreds of times, which lifted my spirits and made me feel like I still had the natural ability to spread the news.

It was at the point where I was on the verge of shifting my focus to a field other than journalism that a few of my online friends or followers would send a note encouraging me to stick with something I knew and loved. I also was inspired by @RandomtoReason to write the book I've always wanted to write and reminded me why I love journalism in the first place.

It was through Twitter that I ramped up my job search, following users like @themediaishirin who listed journalism jobs I knew I was potentially qualified for. The tweets gave me hope that there were jobs out there, and though I hadn't landed one yet, there did exist.

In the end, it was through a traditional online job board that I discovered the Center for Investigative Reporting and an opening for a multimedia producer position at its new California Watch project. More than most other jobs, I applied knowing that not only could I possibly be free from the shackles of unemployment, but more importantly I would be a part of an innovative organization that had the power to transform what journalism is and can be. Finally, in August 2009, I was hired to become a part of the California Watch team, ending an eight-month span of unemployment.

Over the course of my unemployment, my Twitter account grew from roughly 2,000 followers to more than 5,000, and it was undoubtedly these impressive numbers and a demonstrated knowledge of the power of social media that played a role in my hiring and differentiated me from others with similar skills.

It took being unemployed to really understand how Twitter could be used to foster community and relationships, a community that ushered me through a really dark time. Now I start a new chapter in my life and career with the cumulative knowledge and support of the Twitterverse to help me along the way. I look forward to interacting with many more of the brilliant minds on Twitter and to find even more new and exciting ways of using the service. For me, Twitter will always be both a guardian angel and one kick-ass job placement board.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 10 Journalists you should follow on Twitter
• How to analyze your Twitter followers and friends
• The top 7 mistakes new Twitter users make
• Beyond Twitterfeed: Innovative uses of Twitter in the newsroom

20+ Cheat Sheets for Multimedia and Web Producers

2009-08-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

With all the keyboard shortcuts and drop down menus built into many software programs, it can be tough trying to remember every one. The following are reference sheets that will make your multimedia and web production just a little bit easier.

Audacity

Audacity Cheat Sheet
Audacity Keyboard Shortcuts

Pro Tools

Pro Tools 7 Keyboard Shortcuts
Pro Tools Keyboard Shortcuts for Macs

Final Cut

Final Cut Pro 5 Useful Keyboard Shorcuts

iMovie

iMovie 08 Quick Reference
iMovie Quick Cheat Sheet and How to Get Started

Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts (for versions 5 through CS4)

Illustrator

Illustrator CS2 Keyboard Shortcuts - Mac
Illustrator CS2 Keyboard Shortcuts - PC

Flash

Adobe Flash CS4 Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet (PC and OS X)
Adobe Flash CS3 Quick Reference Card
Adobe Flash MX Quick Reference Card

ActionScript

ActionScript 2.0 and 3.0 Cheat sheets

HTML/XHTML

HTML Cheat Sheet
HTML/XHTML Tag Quick Reference
HTML Character Entities Cheat Sheet

CSS

CSS Cheat Sheet
CSS Cheat Sheet (Version 2)

Dreamweaver

Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 Keyboard Shortcuts (PC)
Adobe Dreamweaver 8 Quick Reference Guide

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Essential multimedia tutorials and resources for do-it-yourself training
• Where to find free sound effects and royalty-free music
• 21 Free online photo editing tools

20 Photojournalists' fantastic portfolios

2009-08-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

The digital era has revolutionized photography. Photojournalists not only have access to high-end cameras with a seemingly infinite number of features, but their photos can be presented in many different ways, including slideshows and multimedia packages. However, it doesn't matter the technology that powers the photography, what matters is the eye and innate skill of the photographer, as evidenced below.

1. Gerik Parmele

2. Chris Jordan

3. Natalie Behring

4. Antonin Kratochvil

5. Andrew Moore

6. Susana Raab

7. Martin Fuchs

8. Andrew Burton

9. Jacquelyn Martin

10. James J. Lee

11. Omar Mullick

12. Heidi Schumann

13. Benjamin Lowy

14. Stacey Axelrod

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15. Maisie Crow

16. John Schreiber

17. Mustafah Abdulaziz

18. Harry Benson

19. Ryan Gibbons

20. Jodi Bieber

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Photojournalism: Where to find the best in news photography
• 10 News photos that took retouching too far
• 30 Amazing photoblogs (and a few tips for creating one)
• 15 Journalists' outstanding personal portfolios

The Digital Journalist's Handbook: Coming Soon!

2009-08-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

It is with the deepest pride and pleasure that I announce the upcoming release of "The Digital Journalist's Handbook," a how-to guide to all the multimedia tools journalists need to know to thrive in today's digital news environment. The book contains 12 chapters on everything from writing for the web to shooting photos to creating audio, video and Flash projects. The book will be available this fall on Amazon.com; visit www.djhandbook.net to find out more, including detailed chapter descriptions.

The Handbook will be released soon, but before it is, I need your opinions on some of the technology featured in the book. Please take a few moments to complete this survey that asks questions about your favorite online journalism and multimedia tools. Thanks for your help and be sure to follow @10000Words on Twitter for updates on the book's release.

Beyond iTunes: 5 Unique ways to publish your podcast

2009-08-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

There was a time when a podcast was just a series of audio files that listeners can subscribe to. Years after the the technology was introduced we now have enhanced podcasts as well as newer, enhanced ways of recording and distributing them. The following tools provide unique ways to record, create and publish podcasts:

Huffduffer

The audio files created by individual podcasters are usually created and stored in one place, either in a computer or online folder. Huffduffer lets users create the podcasting equivalent of a linkblog, selecting audio files from anywhere on the internet and combining them into one podcast, whether they were recorded by the user or not. For example, a user can submit the URLS of audio interviews found on the internet and combine them into one amazing series of interviews. Users can "Huffduff" audio files by installing a bookmarklet or submitting audio files on the Huffduff website. A Huffduff podcast is distributed through XML/RSS just like a regular podcast.

Odiogo

Why read a blog post when you can listen to it? Odiogo allows users to extract the text from an RSS file and automatically converts it into audio files that readers can subscribe to. And no weird choppy robot voices either, Odiogo sounds like a human being not a computer (click here to listen to an Odiogo-created audio file of the post "Steal This Blog!"). Odiogo is free for bloggers and works with such blogging sites as Wordpress, Blogger and Typepad.

AudioBoo

AudioBoo is taking advantage of mobile technology by allowing anyone with an iPhone to record podcasts on the go. The free iPhone application lets users record up to five minutes of audio and add a title, tags and/or image using the iPhone camera. The audio file is then uploaded to the site where it can be embedded on a website or blog or shared on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Check out previously recorded podcasts, called "AudioBoos," on the AudioBoo website.

FriendBoo

An offshoot of AudioBoo, FriendBoo lets users of the social media aggregator FriendFeed post audio updates directly to the site. FriendBoo users call a dedicated number to record their micropodcast and the audio is made available in an embedded player in the user's feed. The process is very simple and is great for people who already have an existing audience with FriendFeed.

NPR Podcasts

Creating a great podcast doesn't have to mean recording your own audio. NPR lets users mix and match their favorite NPR shows on everything from politics to health to money and create a single feed that they can subscribe to. NPR fans can search for a specific show or choose shows to include by topic.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Where to find free sound effects and royalty-free music
• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• How to record audio that doesn't take hours to edit